UW–Madison's largest student-run pitch competition
Two days, real judges, and thousands in total prizes. Any UW–Madison student can compete — any major, any stage, from napkin sketch to revenue. If you're building something, this is your stage.
How it works
Format from the 2026 competition — 2027 details confirmed when applications open
Day 1 — Qualifying pitches Every team pitches: 10 minutes total, hard stop — recommended 7-minute pitch + 3-minute Q&A. No live demos on Day 1 (images and pre-recorded video are fine). Midday, the public Poster Session opens — opt in for a table, run live demos, and talk to judges as they circulate. Finalist decisions go out the same night.
Day 2 — Finals The top 16 advance. The format opens up: 10-minute pitch plus a full 10-minute Q&A, live demos allowed, all pitches on the main stage in front of a public audience. Pitching wraps at 4:00 PM, followed by networking and the awards ceremony from 4:00–6:00.
One rule worth knowing now: every team must have a representative present at networking/awards to receive an award.
Prizes
Every team that pitches on Day 1 is eligible for $2,500, with additional prizes distributed among finalists. The full prize breakdown is published one week before the competition.
What Judges Look For
Team — why you; what's your edge.
Market — a real problem, real demand, meaningful size.
Traction — users, revenue, pilots, validation.
Growth potential — can this scale?
Be the first to know when applications open.
One email the day applications go live — plus deadlines and prep events on the way to April.